SAN FRANCISCO -- Samsung Electronics says the U.S. International Trade Commission's decision on Tuesday to ban imports of iPhone 4 and iPad 2 3G confirms "Apple's history of free-riding on Samsung's technological innovations."

The trade agency, whose ruling stems from Samsung's patent lawsuit against Apple, could end Apple's ability to sell the older versions of the iPhone and iPad in the U.S. because they are assembled in China.

"Our decades of research and development in mobile technologies will continue, and we will continue to offer innovative products to consumers," Samsung spokesman Adam Yates said in a statement issued Wednesday.

Apple says it plans to appeal. President Barack Obama has 60 days to review the order.

"Samsung is using a strategy which has been rejected by courts and regulators around the world," Apple spokeswoman Kristin Huguet said in a statement late Tuesday. "They've admitted that it's against the interests of consumers in Europe and elsewhere, yet here in the United States Samsung continues to try to block the sale of Apple products by using patents they agreed to license to anyone for a reasonable fee."

The trade agency issued a limited import ban and a cease-and-desist order for AT&T models of the iPhone 4 and iPad 2 3G, which are still made. iPhone 3GS and iPad 3G, which are no longer made, were also cited in the ruling.

The patent in question relates to 3G wireless technology, and applies only to the AT&T version of the phone. Apple is likely to retire the model in a few months with the expected launch this year of a new iPhone model.